Tech

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Waterloo-based BlackBerry this week announced that it has acquired Encription, which provides cybersecurity services, and will build a unit around consulting. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.The deal puts BlackBerry more squarely into security market where it can leverage its software expertise and intellectual property. The company has already announced plans for a new cybersecurity consulting service. BlackBerry is currently has 15 employees working on this security services, but this works is immaterial to the company's financial results.

Image credit: Insanevisions

The deal with Encription is the latest in a string of acquisitions made by the Waterloo-based company as it move to focus more on its software offerings and security space. The move follows another security-focused moves by BlackBerry- the acquisition of privately held AtHoc, a provider of secure, networked crisis communications for a wide range of clients including governments; and WatchDox, a startup that has developed cross-platform technology for digital rights management and for enterprises to share files securely. Based in Birmingham, U.K., Encription provides hardware and security technical consulting, penetration testing and white hat hacking services. Encription has large enterprise and government customers, but it works under non-disclosure agreements. John Chen, BlackBerry’s Executive Chairman and CEO, said in a statement:“BlackBerry is the gold standard when it comes to security and we’re always evolving to maintain this high standard as the complexity of enterprise mobility and security increases,” and also added this: “We recognize that security vulnerabilities are a top risk concern for public and private sector organizations alike. The creation of our Professional Cybersecurity Services practice and acquisition of Encription reinforces our commitment to providing customers the industry’s most secure mobility solutions and helping them to assess and mitigate risks.”Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry is a global leader in mobile communications. BlackBerry offers the BlackBerry wireless communication platform solution, which includes the compression and security infrastructure service enabling BlackBerry had-held wireless devices to send and receive wireless messages and data. In addition, it also provides QNX software for embedded systems market and BBM, which is known as an instant mobile to mobile private messaging service. The company has office in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

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